"What nice silk!" said Griselda. "I'd like a dress of it. I never noticed that the palanquin was lined so nicely," she continued, "for I suppose it _is_ the one from Lady Lavander's mantelpiece? There couldn't be two so exactly like each other." The cuckoo gave a sort of whistle. "What a goose you are, my dear!" he exclaimed. "Excuse me," he continued, seeing that Griselda looked rather offended; "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but you won't let me say the other thing, you know. The palanquin from Lady Lavander's! I should think not. You might as well mistake one of those horrible paper roses that Dorcas sticks in her vases for one of your aunt's Gloires de Dijon! The palanquin from Lady Lavander's--a clumsy human imitation not worth looking at!" "I didn't know," said Griselda humbly. "Do they make such beautiful things in Mandarin Land?" "Of course," said the cuckoo. Griselda sat silent for a minute or two, but very soon she recovered her spirits. "Will you please tell me where we are going?" she asked again. "You'll see directly," said the cuckoo; "not that I mind telling you. There's to be a grand reception at one of the palaces to-night. I thought you'd like to assist at it. It'll give you some idea of what a palace is like. By-the-by, can you dance?" "A little," replied Griselda. "Ah, well, I dare say you will manage. I've ordered a court dress for you. It will be all ready when we get there." "Thank you," said Griselda. In a minute or two the palanquin stopped. The cuckoo got out, and Griselda followed him. She found that they were at the entrance to a _very_ much grander palace than the one in her aunt's saloon. The steps leading up to the door were very wide and shallow, and covered with a gold embroidered carpet, which _looked_ as if it would be prickly to her bare feet, but which, on the contrary, when she trod upon it, felt softer than the softest moss. She could see very little besides the carpet, for at each side of the steps stood rows and rows of mandarins, all something like, but a great deal grander than, the pair outside her aunt's cabinet; and as the cuckoo hopped and Griselda walked up the staircase, they all, in turn, row by row, began solemnly to nod. It gave them the look of a field of very high grass, through which, any one passing, leaves for the moment a trail, till all the heads bob up again into their places. "What do they mean?" whispered Griselda. "It's a royal salute," said the cuckoo. "A salute!" said Griselda. "I thought that meant kissing or guns." "Hush!" said the cuckoo, for by this time they had arrived at the top of the staircase; "you must be dressed now."